EXEGESIS OF EPHESIANS

I. The Parties:

A. Paul the writer. 1:1 and 3:1.

B. Written to the "saints in Ephesus and faithful in Christ." 1:1.

1. "In Ephesus" disputed. (Is it a genuine objection?)

a. No personal salutation in the letter.

b. Had only heard of their faith and love.

c. They had only heard of his mission to the Gentiles. 3:1-4.

d. It ("in Ephesus") omitted from the Vatican MSS and some others, C and H.

e. Marcion, middle of second century, says it was to the Laodiceans. Compare Col. 4:16.

C. Defense:

1. To the first there is no satisfactory answer.

2. Words in 1:15 are referred to their present state— not to their conversion.

3. Remark in 3:1 is offset by Galatians 1:13. See also 4:21.

4. It is in nearly all the MSS ancient and modern.

5. Sustained by nearly all ancient writers. Marcion was in the habit of changing scriptures to suit his purpose.

II. Circumstances of the writer:

A. First, he was a prisoner for the sake of the Gentiles. 3:1, 4:1; Acts 21:28.

B. In distress and danger. 3:13, 6:12.

C. About to send Tychicus to cheer them by reporting his condition. 6:21, 22. 43

D. Same date as Colossians, 6:21; Col. 4:7-8. Same date as Philemon also. Philemon 1:10-12. (Onesimus and Tychicus travelled together—Onesi­mus with letter to Philemon and Tychicus with those to the Ephesians and Colossians.)

E. He was either in Caesarea or Rome in prison. He was a prisoner in these two places only, long enough to write them. He was expecting to visit Phrygia (Phil. 22) which was not true of him while in Casearea, therefore he was in Rome.

III. Circumstances of the church.

A. Chiefly Gentiles. 3:14,17.

B. Acquainted with Grecian mysteries. 1:9; 3:4, 9; 5:32; 6:19.

C. In distress about Paul. 6:22.

SECTION I

Thanksgiving And Prayer For Readers

Ephesians 1-2:10

I. Salutation, "Through the will of God." 1:1-2. Compare Gal. 1:15; Romans 1:1; Acts 22:14.

II. Thanksgiving for predetermined blessings. 1:3-14.

A. For all spiritual blessings received. 1:3-6.

1. These are a fulfillment of the purpose of election.

2. In that election they were predestinated to sonship.

3. This is in accordance with His will and for the praise or the glory of His favor. 1:6.

B. For spiritual blessings of remission of sins and knowledge of His will. 1:7-10.

1. This remission was a result of some favor. 1:7.

2. Knowledge of His will a result of the superabundance of the same. 1:8-9.

3. Shows what the "ingrafting of His Will" is. It is His purpose to gather all together under Christ. 1:10; Compare 1:22.

C. For the blessing of inheritance. 1:11-14.

1. Predestined. 1:11.

2. Object:

a. That those who had first hoped, should be the means of his glory. 1:12.

b. Later believers received the inheritance when they heard and believed the Gospel. 1:13.

c. Same party also authenticated as heirs by spirit.

d. This an earnest or pledge of the inheritance.

e. All this for the praise of His glory.

The doctrine taught in 1:1-14 states in chronological order:

 

1. God's purpose to gather all in heaven and earth under Christ. 1:9-10.

2. Chose part of the human race to be holy and blameless in Him. 1:4.

3. Predestined the same to sonship, 1:5, and heirship, 1:11.

4. Finally blessed them with every spiritual blessing, 1:3, including remission of sins, 1:7, and wisdom and understanding, 1:8.

a. Holy Spirit given as a seal and earnest.

5. The persons—all those who hear and believe the Gospel receive the spirit and have hope in Christ, 1:12-13.

III. EL Prayer for the enlightenment of his readers. 1:15-23.

A. Their heirship and cause for thanksgiving and prayer. 1:15-16.

B. The prayer. (Prays for spirit of wisdom and revelation. 1:17-18.)

1. So as to know these things.

(a) The hope of his calling.

(b) The riches of his inheritance in the saints.

(c) Greatness of God's power towards us measured by what He did for Christ, 1:19-22, all of which is for the church. 1:22-23.

IV. Further Statement of blessings bestowed. 2:1-10.

A. When dead, God had made them alive and raised to heavenly places in Christ. 2:1-6.

1. "Dead" in any respect means not living in that respect.

2. "Nature" (v. 3) is our own nature to become sinners, not to be born sinners.

B. Object: To display God's power to coming ages. 2:7.

C This salvation through favor, not debt. 2:8-10.

1. "This" and "it" of verse 8 are neuter and refer to the thought of the previous clause, not to "faith" or "grace" which are feminine.

2. The works of verse 9 are works of merit previously done. None but works before salvation could effect it. Baptism not one of these for it is done after we are begotten (made alive) and is part of the process of being raised up to the heavenly places. Compare verse 6.

SECTION II

Union of Jews And Gentiles In Christ

Ephesians2:11-4:16

I. This union effected by the death (1. blood, 2. cross) of Christ, 2:11-22.

A. Reminds the Gentiles of former condition. 2:11-12.

1. They were without five things.

(a) Without Christ.

(b) Without citizenship in the commonwealth of Israel.

(c) Without the covenants of promise.

(d) Without hope.

(e) Without God.

2. Now they have been brought near those five things from which they were far off. 2:13.

3. Christ had made peace between these two parties, 2:14-16, an effect accomplished at same time with the cross.

4. He did so by preaching there was but one way to God for both. 2:12-18.

5. Gentiles, (1) citizens, (2) part of the family, (3) on the foundation as a part of God's Holy Temple. 2:19-21. (Explanation of "foundation." The two walls rested on the apostles and prophets. Christ, the corner stone, held them together. "The prophets" equal those of New Testament or New Covenant Compare 3:5.)

6. Even Gentiles were part of this building. 2:22.

II. To effect this union was chief object of Paul's ministry. 3:1-13.

A. Paul begins to offer prayers for them, but digresses. 3:1.

B. He explains (in digression) how he was a prisoner in their behalf. 3:2-7.

1. A mystery revealed to him. 3:2-3. ("Mystery" equals this privilege of theirs.)

2. He had written so they could know it. 3:3-4.

3. Shows it was not known in other ages as was re­vealed. 3:5.

4. Repeats the chief thought in it. 3:6.

5. Repeats his ministry counted with it. 3:7.

C. His office was also the means of showing to angels the wisdom of God. 3:8-13.

1. Restates the favor given him. 3:8.

2. Further object of it.

(a) To enlighten all men about that ministry. 3:9.

3. That even heavenly beings might know the same. 3:10-12.

4. His sufferings, the glory of the Gentiles. 3:13.

III. Prayer for their increase in love. 3:14-21.

A. God is addressed as Father from whom the "whole family in heaven and earth is named." 3:14-15.

B. Petitions. 3:16-19.

1. Strength in the inner man.

2. Christ in their hearts by faith.

3. Rooted in love.

4. Able to comprehend the Love of Christ.

5. Filled with the fullness of God.

C. Doxology. 3:20-21.

IV. Exhortation to unity with the points of unity. 4:1-6.

A. Walk worthy of calling. 4:1.

B. How thus to walk. 4:2-3.

C. Seven points in which unity of spirit counts. 4:4-6.

V. Distribution of gifts by Christ. 4:7-16.

A. The power of Christ a reason for being able to distribute gifts. 4:7-11.

B. Gifts of different offices (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers.) 4:12.

C. Reasons for giving of gifts. 4:12-15.

D. Function of each part: Be joined to Christ as head and perform its duty to make "increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." 4:16.

SECTION III

Miscellaneous Exhortations

Ephesians 4:17-5:21

I. The way they should walk. 4:17-32.

A. Not as other Gentiles. 4:17.

1. Other Gentiles had their understanding darkened. 4:18.

2. Were past feeling. 4:19.

B. They had learned a different way from Christ. 4:20­ 21.

1. Must put off old man. 4:22.

2. "Be renewed in spirit of your mind." 4:23.

3. "Put on new man." 4:24.

4. Put away lying, anger, giving place to devil, stealing, corrupt communications, grieving Holy Spirit of God, bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, malice. 4:25-31.

5. Treatment of one another. 4:32.

C. Further instruction in how to walk. 5:1-21.

SECTION IV

Directions For Domestic Relations

Ephesians 5:22-6:9

I. Instruction to wives. 5:22-24.

A. Submission of wives. 5:22, 24.

B. Reason for submission. 5:23.

II. Instruction to husbands. 5:25-33.

A. Husbands to love wives as Christ loved the Church. 5:25-32.

B. Mutual love of husband and reverence of wife. 5:33.

III. Instruction to children and fathers. 6:1-4.

A. Children to obey and honor parents. 6:1-2.

1. This to promote longevity. 6:3.

B. Fathers not to provoke children to wrath. 6:4.

IV. Instruction to servants and masters. 6:5-9.

A. Servants to practice obedience with fear and trembling and singleness of heart as unto Christ. 6:5.

1. Not to obey with eye service. 6:6.

2. To do service with good will. 6:7.

3. Whether bond or free, if a man does good, he shall receive same from the Lord. 6:8.

B. Masters to treat servants in same way. 6:9.

SECTION V

General Exhortations and Benediction

Ephesians 6:10-24

I. Exhorts to strength and putting on of armor of God. 6:10-17.

A. Strength to be in Lord and in power of his might. 6:10.

B. Put on whole armor of God and why this is needed. 6:11-13.

C. The armor:

1. Girdle of truth and breastplate of righteousness. 6:14.

2. Feet shod with preparation of Gospel. 6:15.

3. Shield of faith. 6:16.

4. Helmet of salvation and sword of spirit. 6:17.

II. Exhortation to prayer for all saints and himself. 6:18­ 19.

A. Paul an ambassador in bonds. 6:20.

III. Sending Tychicus to inform them of his condition. 6:21-22.

IV. Benediction. 6:23-24.